Beginning JSP Web Development

JavaServer Pages (JSP) is an increasingly popular technology for building dynamic web applications that can access databases and provide an interactive experience for your site's users. JSP is built on top of the Java programming language, and so this book will teach you both JSP itself and the fundamentals of Java.

You'll learn how the web works and how JSP fits in, how to get input from the user and create web pages "on the fly", how JavaBeans components and tag libraries allow you to make your code more readable and easier to maintain, and of course how the Java language itself works. The book also covers how to handle errors in your code, the best ways of designing web applications, and rounds up with a comprehensive case study - a web site for a local tourism authority.

This book covers: How to install Java and JSP/Servlets
How to create dynamic web sites with JavaServer Pages (JSP)
Object-oriented programming in Java
Java's core utility and input/output classes
How to use and create JSP Tag Libraries
Best practices in designing web applications with Java
Relational database access with MySQL and JDBC
Using the popular Struts framework to simplify application design
Includes frequent worked examples, including an in-depth case study

Ideal for anyone new to JavaServer Pages (JSP), Beginning JSP Web Development offers an excellent and thorough guide to using JSP effectively. Combining a tutorial of basic Java with excellent practical material on using Tomcat and related tools, this book will fill a valuable niche for anyone wanting to build Web applications the right way using some of the latest standards in Java.

Learning JSP today requires not only a basic knowledge of Java, but also practical advice for using Tomcat, custom tag libraries, database programming, and other standards. This title distinguishes itself with chapter-by-chapter coverage of all you need to program with JSP. For those new to Java, introductory material on data types, flow control, and basic class design will help you learn essential Java. The authors also present practical advice and samples for installing and configuring Tomcat (an open source JSP/servlet engine), including advice on deployment options. Sections on database and JDBC programming, servlets, and session management supplement the basics of using JSP with embedded Java scriptlets.

Standout material on JSP custom tag libraries will justify the price of this book for many readers (including those with previous Java experience, but little JSP exposure). Several sections on designing and deploying custom tag libraries show you how to make use of this powerful new Sun standard. The text closes with leading-edge material on the new Struts Web application framework, including a worthwhile case study for an online travel database using this pre-packaged codebase as a starting point. Sun has endorsed Struts and other application frameworks as a "best practice" when building JSP-based applications, and the authors do a good job showing off this solution, including advice on configuration options.

With JSP evolving into an even more powerful and flexible Web solution using custom tag libraries and other standards, this book fits the bill with an up-to-the-minute and approachable tour of exactly what any developer needs to use JSP productively in real projects. --Richard Dragan